Mandolin, banjo, and guitar attachment for pianos.



No. 667,972. Ptented Feb. l2, I90l. T. P. COOK.

MANDOLIN, BANJO, AND GUITAR ATTACHMENT FOR PI ANOS.

(Application filed May 4, 1900.

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,UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS P. COOK, OF DESLOGE, MISSOURI.

MANDOLIN, BANJO, AN D GUITAR ATTACHMENT FOR PIANOS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 667,972, dated February 12, 1901.

Application filed May 4, 1900. Serial No. 15,470. (No model.)

To (ti/l whom it nuty concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS P. COOK, of the city of Desloge, St. Francois county, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mandolin, Banjo, and Guitar Attachments for Pianos, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact descriptiou, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

This invention relates to mandolin, banjo, and guitar attachments for pianos, 850.; and it consists of the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter shown, described, and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional view of a part of a piano, showing my improved attachment in position therein. Fig. 2 is a view in perspective showing parts of my invention. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of one of the tongues. Figs. 4 and 5 are rear and front views, respectively, of one of the tongues. Fig. 6 is an end view of the complete invention. Fig. '7 is a view showing a modified form of my improved attachment. Fig. 8 is a view in perspective showing the manner in which the tongues of modified construction are supported. Fig. 9 is a view showing the means which I employ for raising or lowering the device while the same is in use.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings, 1 indicates a strip of leather or similar material of a length suflicient to extend over the space occupied by the pianostrings. Integral with the lower edge of the said strip is a plurality of downwardly-pending tongues 2, there being one for each of the piano-strings. The said tongues are arranged in such a manner as to be parallel with the piano-strings when the device is in use, and consequently they will extend in relatively different angles from the strip 1. The lower end 3 of each of the tongues is made thinner than the upper portion for the purpose of making it more flexible, and to the rear side of each of the tongues is secured a metallic button t, which is adapted to be thrown against a string of the piano, and thereby vibrate the said string. Each of the buttons is provided with a pair of ears or clips 5, which project rearwardly through an aperture in each of the tongues and are bent laterally,

thereby holding the button rigidly in position, Fig. 5.

To the rear side of the strip 1 is secured a corresponding strip 6, integral with which is a plurality of tongues 7, the same corresponding with and being secured to the tongues 2. The tongues 7 are wedge-shaped and terminate at a point some distance above the buttons 4, Fig. 6. By this arrangement the tongues are made flexible at their lower ends, while their upper portions are made more rigid and serve to retain them in their normal or straight position. The strip 6 may be dispensed with, however, by making the strip 1 outof thick leather and arranging the tongues 2 tapering, as is done when the strip 6 and the tongues? are made use of. The same result will be attained in either case.

In use the strip 1 is secured to the rear side of the mufliing-bar, Fig. 1, so that the tongues 2 are immediately in front of the piano-strings and in rear of the hammers. The piano is then played in the ordinary manner, the hammers striking the lower part of the tongues 2 and driving the buttons 4t against the strings, which arevibrated and make a sound like that of a mandolin, banjo,

or guitar, depending upon the location of the strip upon which the hammer strikes.

In Figs. 7, 8, and 9 I show a modified construction and dispense with the strip 1 entirely and arrange a plurality of tongues 8, each provided on its upper end with a setscrew 9, but similar in other respects to the tongues 2. I provide a rack 10,having an aperture 11 extending longitudinally therethrough and a slot 12 leading into the said aperture from the rear side of the rack. To apply the tongues, the heads of the set-screws are inserted in the aperture 11, the body of the set-screws projecting through the slot 12. The tongues then, as is readily apparent, can be adjusted at any desired angle. The rack may be supported in any desired manner and may be raised and lowered by engaging the cord 13, secured thereto, and which projects upwardly over a pulley located in the center of the cover and through an aperture in the center of the front side and held at any desired adjustment by a fastening device of any preferred construction. By adjusting the device in different positions sounds may be made like those produced by a mandolin, banjo, or guitar, and the change from one to the other can be quickly and easily accomplished by means of the cord 13.

I claim- 1. As an article of manufac1u1re,the hereindescribed device for use in musical instru- HIGDUSflOIDPl'lSlIlQZL strip of leatherof a length equal to the space covered by the strings of the instrument in which it is adapted to be used, and having integral therewith a plurality of depending tongues, which tongues extend at various angles from the said strip, and a metallic button carried by the lower end of each of said tongues, substantially as specified.

2. As a new article of manufacture, the 

